Ilex plant named ‘RLH-IO-1’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Ilex  plant named ‘RLH-IO-1’, characterized by its low-growing to spreading/trailing and mounding plant habit; vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate; moderately freely branching habit; strong and flexible lateral branches that resist cracking, breakage and splitting; dark green-colored leaves that are initially bright green when developing; color is maintained throughout the year in full or partial sunlight conditions; and good garden performance, winter hardiness and tolerance to stresses, pathogens and pests common to  Ilex  plants.

Botanical designation: Ilex opaca.

Cultivar denomination: ‘RLH-1O-1’.

STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY INVENTORS/APPLICANTS

The Inventors/Applicants assert that no publications nor advertisements relating to sales, offers for sale or public distribution occurred more than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application. Any information about the claimed plant would have been obtained from a direct or indirect disclosure from the Inventors/Applicants. Inventors/Applicants claim a prior art exemption under 35 U.S.C. 102(b)(1) for disclosure and/or sales prior to the filing date but less than one year prior to the effective filing date.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present Invention relates to a new and distinct Ilex plant, botanically known as Ilex opaca, commonly referred to as American Holly and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘RLH-IO-1’.

The new Ilex plant originated from an open-pollination of Ilex opaca ‘IOJD-1’, a proprietary cultivar and not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Ilex opaca, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Ilex plant was discovered and selected by the Inventors in 1990 as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open-pollination in a controlled environment in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C.

Asexual reproduction of the new Ilex plant by semi-hardwood and hardwood stem cuttings in Long Creek, Oconee County, S.C. since 2000 has shown that the unique features of the new Ilex plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Ilex have not been observed under all possible combinations of environmental conditions and cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype. The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘RLH-IO-1’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘RLH-IO-1’ as a new and distinct Ilex plant:

-   -   1. Low-growing to spreading/trailing and mounding plant habit;         suitable as a ground cover, trained to arbors or to cascade over         walls.     -   2. Vigorous growth habit and moderate growth rate.     -   3. Moderately freely branching habit.     -   4. Strong and flexible lateral branches that resist cracking,         breakage and splitting.     -   5. Dark green-colored leaves that are initially bright green         when developing; color is maintained throughout the year in full         or partial sunlight conditions.     -   6. Good garden performance, winter hardiness and tolerance to         stresses, pathogens and pests common to Ilex plants.

Plants of the new Ilex differ primarily from plants of the female parent, ‘IOJD-1’, in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ilex have a low-growing to         spreading/trailing and mounding plant habit whereas plants of         ‘IOJD-1’ have an upright to mounding and pendulous plant habit.     -   2. Leaves of plants of the new Ilex are undulate and rugose         whereas leaves of plants of ‘IOJD-1’ are flat and rugulose.     -   3. Plants of the new Ilex only produce male flowers whereas         plants of ‘IOJD-1’ only produce female flowers.

Plants of the new Ilex can be compared to the plants of Ilex opaca ‘Maryland Dwarf’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons, plants of the new Ilex differ from plants of ‘Maryland Dwarf’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Ilex have a low-growing to         spreading/trailing and mounding plant habit whereas plants of         ‘Maryland Dwarf’ are compact and have an upright and mounding         plant habit typical of many Holly species.     -   2. Plants of the new Ilex are more vigorous and faster growing         than plants of ‘Maryland Dwarf’.     -   3. Plants of the new Ilex have strong and flexible lateral         branches that resist cracking, breakage and splitting whereas         plants of ‘Maryland Dwarf’ have stiff and rigid lateral branches         that are prone to splitting.     -   4. Leaves of plants of the new Ilex are undulate and rugose         whereas leaves of plants of ‘Maryland Dwarf’ are flat to         slightly cupped and rugulose.     -   5. Leaves of plants of the new Ilex maintain their dark green         coloration throughout the year under full or partial sunlight         conditions whereas leaves of plants of ‘Maryland Dwarf’ become         yellow green in color during the winter when grown under full         sun conditions.     -   6. Plants of the new Ilex only produce male flowers whereas         plants of ‘Maryland Dwarf’ only produce female flowers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying colored photograph illustrates the overall appearance of the new Ilex plant. The photograph shows the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photograph may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Ilex plant. The photograph is a side perspective view of a typical plant of ‘RLH-IO-1’ grown in an outdoor nursery.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photograph and following observations and measurements describe plants grown during the summer in an outdoor nursery in Seneca, S.C. and under cultural practices typical of commercial Ilex production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from −5° C. to 45° C., night temperatures ranged from ranged from −25° C. to 35° C. and grown under full and partial sunlight conditions. Plants were 30 years old when the photograph was taken and 15 years old when the detailed description was taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Ilex opaca ‘RLH-IO-1’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Ilex opaca ‘IOJD-1’, a proprietary             cultivar and not patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Unknown selection of Ilex opaca,             not patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By semi-hardwood and hardwood stem cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About 45 to 60 days at             temperatures about 25° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About 60 to 90 days at             temperatures about 15° C. to 22° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, summer.—About 80 to             120 days at temperatures about 25° C. to 30° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted young plant, winter.—About 100 to             150 days at temperatures about 16° C. to 25° C.         -   Root description.—Fine to medium in thickness, fibrous;             typically white in color, close to 155C and becoming closer             to 199C with development; actual color of the roots is             dependent on substrate composition, water quality,             fertilizer, substrate temperature and physiological age of             roots.         -   Rooting habit.—Freely branching; dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Perennial evergreen shrub;             low-growing to spreading/trailing and mounding plant habit;             suitable as a ground cover or can be trained to arbors or to             cascade over and cover walls; vigorous growth habit and             moderate growth rate.         -   Branching habit.—Moderately freely branching habit;             branching pattern is deliquescent.         -   Plant height.—About 70 cm.         -   Plant diameter, area of spread.—About 250 cm.         -   Lateral branch description.—Length: About 3 cm to 15 cm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm to 2.5 mm. Internode length: About 1             cm to 3.5 cm. Strength: Strong and flexible; resistant to             cracking, breakage and splitting. Aspect: Outward to             reclining, trailing and cascading. Texture: Initially,             slightly puberulent becoming woody and glabrous with             development. Color, developing: Close to 145B. Color,             developed: Close to 199C.         -   Leaf description.—Arrangement: Alternate, simple. Length:             About 6 cm to 10 cm. Width: About 3 cm to 6 cm. Shape: Oval             to rotund; undulate and slightly twisted. Apex: Subacute             with a single sharp spine. Base: Obtuse. Margin: Shallowly             lobed with six to seven sharp spines on each side of the             leaf; undulate. Spine length: About 1 mm to 2 mm. Spine             color: Close to N144D. Venation pattern: Pinnate. Texture             and luster, upper surface: Rugose, glabrous; coriaceous;             glossy. Texture and luster, lower surface: Rugose, mostly             glabrous with pubescence along midvein; semi-glossy. Color:             Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to between 143A and             144A. Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 146C to             146D. Fully expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 139A;             venation, close to 139B. Fully expanded leaves, lower             surface: Close to 146B to 146C; venation, close to 146C.             Petioles: Length: About 6 mm to 10 mm. Diameter: About 1.5             mm to 1.8 mm. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Minute             lanulose pubescence, coriaceous. Color, upper surface: Close             to 139B. Color, lower surface: Close to 146C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance and arrangement.—Small staminate (male)             cruciform flowers are arranged in axillary compound cymes;             freely flowering with numerous cymes developing per plant,             cymes with typically about two to twelve flowers; flowers             face mostly outwardly.         -   Natural flowering season.—Plants flower in mid to late             spring in South Carolina; flowers last about five to seven             days on the plant; flowers are not persistent.         -   Fragrance.—Faintly fragrant; honey-like.         -   Cyme diameter.—About 1 cm to 1.5 cm.         -   Cyme height.—About 1 cm to 2 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 7.5 mm to 8 mm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 3.5 mm to 4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 2 mm to 3 mm. Diameter: About 2             mm to 3 mm. Shape: Spherical to ovoid. Color: Close to             NN155B.         -   Petals.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single             whorl and fused at the base. Length: About 3 mm to 4 mm.             Width: About 2.5 mm to 3 mm. Shape: Obelliptic to obovate.             Apex: Obtuse, rounded. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color: When             opening, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155A. Fully             opened, upper and lower surfaces: Close to NN155B; color             becoming closer to 155C with development.         -   Sepals.—Quantity and arrangement: About four in a single             whorl and fused at the base. Length: About 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm.             Diameter: About 1.5 mm to 1.8 mm. Shape: Deltoid. Apex:             Acute to subacute. Base: Fused. Margin: Entire. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Scabrous. Color, upper and lower             surfaces: Close to 144A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 4.5 mm to 9 mm. Diameter: About 0.7             mm to 0.8 mm. Aspect: Outwardly, about 45° from stem axis.             Strength: Moderately strong. Texture: Slightly pubescent.             Color: Close to 144A; in full sunlight conditions becoming             tinged with close to 166A.         -   Pedicels.—Length: About 2 mm to 6 mm. Diameter: About 0.3 mm             to 0.7 mm. Aspect: Outwardly. Strength: Moderately strong.             Texture: Slightly pubescent. Color: Close to 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Quantity per flower: About             four. Filament length: About 1.75 mm to 2 mm. Filament             color: Close to NN155B. Anther length: About 2 mm to             2.25 mm. Anther shape: Rotund to ovate. Anther color: Close             to 150D. Pollen amount: Moderate. Pollen color: Close to             150D. Gynoecium: To date, only staminate flowers have been             observed on plants of the new Ilex. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Ilex have been observed to     have good garden performance and to be tolerant to rain, wind and     temperatures ranging from about −25° C. to about 45° C. -   Pathogen tolerance: Plants have been observed to be tolerant to Leaf     Spot (Cylindrocladium spp.). Plants have not been observed to be     tolerant to other pathogens common to Ilex plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Ilex plant named ‘RLH-IO-1’ as illustrated and described. 